Are you considering a new pet? Please remember your local animal shelter. When you adopt from a shelter you’ll give an animal a second chance at finding a home and you will not add to the nation’s pet overpopulation problem. The reality is that an estimated 3.7 million unwanted pets cannot find families to adopt them. Via

Thank you so much to everyone who has spoken to us about their pets, and how pet adoption has changed their lives. This week’s story comes from Pam Zirabel.

My dalmatians (mother & daughter) were lost in 2006. On Friday December 7th 2007, my husband and I both got off work early, in time to make it to the Corona Animal Shelter to see if there were any medium sized dogs ready for adoption.

As we were walking past the pens, there were not too many medium sized dogs and at the end of aisle, I almost missed this black labrador that was in the back of the pen. She caught my eye and I fell in love. We had an awesome first meeting and we adopted her on the spot. Not exactly the medium sized dog we had envisioned, but she was on the small size for a labrador. In the years since, many people and our vet have described her as an English Lab (shorter legs, about 70 lbs).

Coco came home with us and she captured our hearts. We honestly think that perhaps she was an abandoned or “foreclosure” dog, as she was well mannered, well trained and probably the best companion dog I’ve ever lived with in my whole life. She has never, once, tried to run away even with the front door wide open.

This companion nature was important to me, as in May of 2009 I became very ill with a rare neurological condition. It took me almost 6 months to recover and return to work. My husband was still active duty military at that time and was away most of that summer training. Coco was my nurse, my companion and my best friend in that time period.

I often tell this same exact story when people meet Coco, as they cannot believe she is/was a shelter dog. She is so very sweet and friendly…..so hear our ‘tail’ and do as we did…take a chance on a dog you connect with and adopt your next pet from our local, Corona Animal Shelter!
~Pam

Animal shelters are brimming with happy, healthy animals just waiting for someone to take them home. If you love animals, check out the Corona Animal Shelter, and bring your own loving friend home. Hours: Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. And Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.. Closed Sunday, Monday, and Friday.

Corona Animal Shelter
608 Harrington Street
Corona, CA 92880 [MAP]
Phone: (951) 736-2309

To submit your own story, email us at Inner-Circle@DiscoverCorona.com